Mechanism for draining accumulated moisture from storage tanks



May 15, 1951 R. c. CHURCHMAN 2,552,513

MECHANISM FOR DRAINING ACCUMULATED MOISTURE FROM STORAGE TANKS Filed Oct. 29. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 COMPBESSOE a conness s50 HIE ELECTRIC Film 4677C SM/ITCH IO MOTOIE WHEN PeEssme-E DROPS swlrch' OPE/25725.

Mo/smes 7' men/AI IN V EN TOR. EU-SSELL C CHUECHM/I/V May 15, 1951 R. c. CHURCHMAN 2,552,518

MECHANISM FOR DRAINING ACCUMULATED MOISTURE FROM STORAGE TANKS Filed Oct. 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELEcrz/C comma 4a rm: LIMIT HEHTER MHGNETIC cm.

PIJTON J r- Ezsmucrso our-LE7- cawA/ECTS w/rh' coM- PRESSED 61R ST'ORHQE TANK VHLVE P4 mvqse. OPEN F S/ T/OA/ IN VEN TOR. RUSSEL C CHUBCHMH/V Patented May 15 1951 MECHANISM FOR DRAJNIN G ACCUMULATED MOISTURE FROM STORAGE TANKS Russell 0. Churchman, Des Moines, Iowa; Nellie Churchman executrix of said Russell 0. Ohurchman, deceased Application October 29, 1945, Serial No. 625,225

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism and means for actuating the mechanism in combination with a compressor unit and a storage tank to drain any accumulated moisture from the storage tank through the mechanism to a disposal point and more particularly is an improvement over Patent 2,330,027 issued September 21, 1943 of which applicant is a co-inventor.

Compressed air finds many uses in industry chief among which are: inflating automobile tires, a means of forcing grease through and from grease guns, spraying paint, operating air brakes and in the operation of numerous types of machinery. The air that is compressed is at atmospheric pressure and temperature; and always contains some water vapor. The air and water vapor are at equilibrium at atmospheric pressure and temperature but as the air is compressed and the pressure raised, equilibrium is disturbed and the water vapor drops out as a liquid in the pressure storage tank. If the water is not drained from the pressure storage tank, it passes out with the compressed air to create numerous disadvantages; for example it has a corrosive effect on metal parts contacted and dilutes any material sprayed, such as paint.

It has been the practice in the past to equip storage tanks with a petcock or hand operated valve means to manually drain off accumulated moisture from the storage tanks. Neglect on the part of attendants or operators makes this procedure ineffective with resultant damage to the equipment.

It is an object of the invention among others to provide a mechanism and actuation means in combination with any type compressor unit and storage tank to drain accumulated moisture from the storage tank.

It is still another object of the invention t provide a mechanism and actuation means in combination with a storage tank and compressor unit which mechanism is opened when the compressor unit starts into operation and is held open for a predetermined time interval each time the compressor unit starts into operation to drain accumulated moisture from the storage tank.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a valve having means to actuate the valve to open the same and a control means to hold the valve open for a predetermined time interval.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an electrical actuation means having a movable member which actuates any desired device with a time control means associated therewith.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a mechanism and actuation means automatic in operation which is economical to manufacture, durable and efficient in use, easy to install and maintain and easy of adjustment. Other objects will become apparent from a detailed description to follow in conjunction with the drawing.

In carrying out the objects of the invention there is provided a compressor unit connected to a storage tank with the compressor unit maintaining pressure in the storage tank at a predetermined pressure and a mechanism connected with the storage tank which mechanism is opened when the compressor unit starts into operation to drain any accumulated moisture from the storage tank through the mechanism to a disposal point. The mechanism may be a valve with a plunger member seated within the valve closing oh the valve and said plunger unseated by an electrical actuation means to open the valve when the compressor unit starts into operation with the valve being open for a predetermined time interval each time the compressor unit starts into operation. There is included a thermostatically controlled member which closes off electric current to the electrical actuation means after the predetermined time interval has elapsed and a means for breaking the electric circuit to the thermostatically controlled member after the valve has once been actuated to insure that the valve will open only once each timethe compressor unit operates.

There is also provided a means for controlling the compressor unit which may be a starting and stopping means such as an electric switch means and the valve is connected with both the electric switch and storage tank. When the electric switch allows electric current to pass to the compressor unit, electric current from the switch also passes to the electrical actuation means.

As a sub-combination there is disclosed a valve with a body member having a plunger seated therein and means to actuate the plunger to open the valve. The means to actuate the plunger may be electrical and includes an electrically influenced member such as a solenoid to unseat the plunger and control means such as a thermostatically controlled switch member to close olT electric current to the electrically influenced member after a predetermined time interval has elapsed. A means for breaking the electrical circuit to the solenoid after .the thermostatically controlled switch has closed off electric current to the solenoid is included which may be hinged arm mem- V likewise reduced in conduit l6.

bers, carrying contact members through which electric current flows to the solenoid when the contact members are in engagement; with a magnetic coil along with the solenoid pulling the hinged arms apart to thus separate the contact members and a spring means pulls the hinged arms together and the contact members into engagement when current to the magnetic coil is closed on.

As a further sub-combination there is provided an electrical actuation means with anelectrically influenced membersuch as a solenoid having a movable member or core therein; the movable member or core .is pulledto one position when electric current is supplied to the electrically influenced member or solenoid and returned to its original position when electric cur rent is no longer supplied to the electrically influenced member or solenoid. There is included a time control means, one form of which is a thermostatically controlled switch member to close olf electric current to the electrically influenced member or solenoid after a predetermined time interval has elapsed, and a means for breaking.

the electric current to the solenoid which may take the form of hinged arm members carrying contact members through which the electric current flows to the solenoid when the contact mem bers are in engagement and breaking the electric circuit to the solenoid when separated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

' the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the sevvalve body in section and the electrical actuation means partly in elevation and partly diagrammatically.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the hinged arms showing the hinged arms in their fully separated position.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an automatic switch [0, electrically connected to electric motor which furnishes the motive power for air compressor Q2. The electric motor II and the air compressor [2 form a compressor unit which may be in any compact arangement. Compressed air leaves the compressor 12 by condui't i3 and enters pressure storage tank M from where it is distributed for use by pipe I5. A conduit' 16 connects pressure storage tank M with automatic switch I!) and automatic switch it is soconstructed as to be influenced by the air pressure in pressure storage tank M. It is the usual practice to maintain air pressure in storage tank I 4 at a maximum of 125 pounds .per square inch. When the pressure of air in storage tank It reaches this point, the pressure is "exerted through conduit 5 against automatic "switch- I'll to close off the automatic switch H) from supplying electric current to electric motor ll "thus stopping the compressing operation. As air is Withdrawn from storage tank M for use, the pressure in storage tank H5 is reduced and is When pressure in. storage tank M and conduit [6 reaches 90 pounds per square inch, automatic switch l0 will ing withdrawn from storage tank I i. 25

operation in operation until pressure in storage tank l4 again reaches 125 pounds per square inch. This operation is standard practice in most every commercial compressor unit oifered for sale today and applicant lays no claim of novelty to this feature.

The? surrounding atmosphere always contains a certain amount of moisture, which is measured as the relative humidity of the atmosphere. The relative humidity of the atmosphere varies from time to time, depending upon temperature and pressure conditions existing at the time. When air is drawn from the surrounding atmosphere and compressed, equilibrium conditions of the air and the moisture contained therein are disturbed. At the increased pressure, water vapor can no longer exist in the air as a vapor, hence it drops out as a liquid and is collected in pressure storage tank Hi. If provisions are not provided to drain accumulated water from storage tank [4, after a certain length of time tank It will contain a large quantity of water and this water will pass out with the compressed air be- Water in the compressed air is undesirable where air pressure is being used to operate machinery since the water has a corrosive effect on the metal parts of the machinery. Where 'the' compressed air is being used in a spray, the water in the compressed air dilutes the material being sprayed and in the case of paint the paint tends to lose its adhesive quality to adhere to a surface. It is very desirable that the accumulated moisture in storage tank M be removed positively and automatically without the human element entering into this operation.

In Figure 1 is shown a mechanism ll, which in the present instance'for purposes of illustration is shown as an electrically actuated valve mechanism. The mechanism H is connected with storage tank M by conduit !8 which conduit passes through the mechanism IT and drains any accumulated moisture from storage tank M to a disposal point through conduit is when the mechanism H is open to connect conduits I8 and IS. The mechanism '17 is electrically connected with the automatic switch Ill so thatelectric current passes to the mechanism I! at the same time electric current passes to electric motor H. The mechanism H is then opened to connect conduits I8 and i9 and drain any accumulated moisture :from storage tank M. The mechanism I'l remains open for a pre-determined time interval each time the compressor unit starts into operation.

Turning now to Figure 2, the operation of mechanism 'i'i can he more clearly understood.

The mechanism as shown comprises a valve having a b'odymember 2!) which valve is actuated by an electrical actuation means represented generally at 2!. Valve body 26 has an inlet 22 into which conduit It connects which joins storage tank I4 with the valve body 29. An outlet 23 is provided to receive the conduit i9 which conduit leads to a point of disposal for any accumulated water drained from storage tank I4. A passage 2% runs through the valve body 25) from inlet 22 to outlet 23 to establish a conduit through the valve body 26. Within the valve body 20 is a tapered seat 25 to receive tapered plunger 25 in sealing arrangement to close off passage 24 through the valve body 20. Spring 21 urges the plunger 25 into sealing engagement with seat 25. The" plunger 2% has an extension rod 28 extending upwardly through the valve body 20 and outside thereof to contact an actuation means for unseating the valve plunger 26 from the seat portion 25. Spring 2'! always tends to urge the plunger into closed position or into engagement with seat 25 to close off passage 24. member 29 fits across passage 24 in the outlet side of the valve body and may be screwed in or out of the valve body 20 to restrict or enlarge the size of passage 24.

The valve is actuated by electrical actuation means 2! by unseating plunger 26 from seat 25. Extension rod 28 contacts and forces the whole plunger downwardly against the resistance of spring 21. The electrical actuation means 2| may be mounted on a supporting member 33" ing member 3!! is an electrically influenced" member which in the present instance is a magnetic coil 32 connected electrically with the automatic switch in. Electric current flowing into magnetic coil 32 .magnetizes projecting core 33 which is rounded on top as more clearly shown in Figure 3. Mounted on the other side of supporting member 33, opposite magnetic coil 32 is another electrically influenced member 34, which in the present instance is a solenoid. The solenoid has a core member 35 therein, which core member 35 is moved downwardly by the solenoid 34 when energized to unseat plunger 26 from seat in the valve. Connected rigidly to the top of core member 35 and supported thereby is an arm member 36 having a second arm member 31 hingedly connected to arm 35 at 38. Arm 36 has an electrical contact member 39 connected to the end thereof while arm 31 has contact member 4i! rigidly connected thereto and a spring 4| between arms 35 and 31 keeps contact members 39 and 43 in engagement. The contact member 49 is connected electrically with the automatic switch It and is supplied electric current at the same time electric current is supplied electric motor II.

In operation, when electric current is supplied electric motor ll, electric current also flows to magnetic coil 32, thus magnetizing projecting core 33 and electric current also flows to electric contact member 43. With the parts in the position shown in Figure 2, contact member 39 is in engagement with contact member 40 hence electric current is conducted from contact member 43 to contact member 39, through conductor 4! to a time limit controlled switch member 42. The switch member 42 has connected therewith 'a thermostatic member that is heated by electric current passing therethrough and expands to actuate the switch means 42 to close off flow of electric current to the solenoid member 34. The thermostatic member can be made to allow any time interval desired, and in the present instance applicant has found a time interval of five seconds to be suflicient time to hold valve 213 open to drain accumulated moisture from the storage tank l4. Conductor 41 after connecting to the time limit control switch 42 connects into solenoid 34 to furnish electric current to the solenoid 34 when time limit control switch 42 is in contact.

A screw 1 When electric current does not flow to the solenoid 34, it is no longer energized hence core member 35 moves upward to the position shown in Figure 3. When the solenoid is energized, core member 35 is pulled downward, contacting extension rod 28 to unseat plunger 26 from seat 25 to thus open passage 24 through the valve and allow accumulated water in storage tank 14 to drain to a disposal point through conduit l9. The plunger 25 is held unseated for five seconds while air under pressure in storage tank 14 forces accumulated moisture through conduit N3, the valve and conduit I9. The screw 29 may be regulated in passage 24 to enlarge or restrict passage 24 to be sure all moisture is removed from storage tank l4 during the five second period the valve is open. When solenoid 34 is no longer energized, core member 35 is moved upwardly and spring 21 forces plunger 26 into closed position across passage 24.

When time controlled switch 42 closes oil electric current to solenoid 34, after the five second time interval has elapsed, electric current is still being supplied to the magnetic coil The core member 35 moves upwardly about one-quarter inch and the arm member 36 being rigidlyattached thereto moves upwardly also. Since the projecting core 33 is still magnetized, it holds arm 3'! and will not let arm 31 move upwardly, hence in order for arm 36 to move upwardly arm 37 must hinge about point 38. As seen in Figure 3, the upward movement of arm member 35 separates contact members 39 and 4!? hence no electric current can pass to the solenoid until the contact members 39 and 46 are back in engagement again.

The arm members 36 and 31 remain in the position shown in Figure 3 for the time electric current is supplied to electric motor I I or until automatic switch 10 closes off. When this occurs no more electric current is furnished magnetic coil 32 and in turn projecting core 33 is no longer magnetized. Spring 4| then pulls arm 3! upwardly until contact members 39 and 53 are in engagement and the mechanism I1 is all set to operate again when automatic switch I!) is again actuated by 'a pressure drop in storage tank [4. Electric current again passes to magnetic coil 32 and magnetizes projecting core 33; solenoid 34 is energized thus pulling core member 35 downwardly and also bringing arm 31 into engagement with the projecting core 33. This completes the cycle of operation as the device is back to the position shown in Figure 2.

The valve and electrical actuation means will be assembled in a compact unit and be suitably enclosed. The valve has been suitably cast from Kirksite, a zinc alloy metal and the plunger member can also be of Kirksite and an effective seal can be made with the seat by covering the plunger with a synthetic rubber covering which can be removable so as to be replaced when worn. The solenoid presents nothing new and novel, since it is the ordinary wound member with a core therein. The solenoid member must be small and several difierent type units are now being offered commercially which applicant has used successfully. The same applies to the magnetic coil as to the solenoid, namely it must be small and several different magnetic coils are available on the market at the present time which have been successfully employed in the present organization. The time control switch is a re ular switch member having contact members. When electric current passes through the contact "members, it must first pass through a control 1 member which is:a resistance member made of a metal that has relatively large thermal expansion ,upon heating, which expansion separates the switch contact members and breaks off passage of electric current throughthe switch. Here too, applicant has not presented anything new or novel. since a switch of this type, suitable in the present organization, is available on the, commercial market and has been used by applicant. Applicants claim to novelty resides in the specific assembly or organization of the respective elements rather than'the individual elements themselves.

While the. invention has been described in connection with several specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than of limitation,and that practice of the invention with the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the true scope of the invention in all its aspects.

I claim 1' 1. In combination, a compressor unit connected to a storage tank, said compressor unit main-' taining pressure in the storage tank at a predetermined pressure, a valve connected with the storage tank having a plunger member seated within the valve closing off the valve, an electrical actuation means to unseat the plunger to open the valve when the compressor unit starts into operation, and a thermostatically controlled member operable to close off electric current to the electrical actuation means after a predetermined time interval has elapsed to allow the plunger to seat within the valve.

2. In combination, a compressor unit connected to a storage tank, said compressor unit maintaining pressure in the storage tank at a predetermined pressure, a valve connected with the storage tank having a plunger member seated within the valve closing off the valve, and electrical actuation means to unseat the plunger to Y open the valvewhen he compressor unit starts into operation, a thermostatically controlled switch member operable to close off electric current to the electrical actuation means after a predetermined time interval has alapsed to allow the plunger to seat within the valve and means for breaking the electric circuit to the thermostatically controlled switch member after the valve has once been actuated to insure that the valve will open only once each time the compressor unit operates.

3. In combination, a compressor'unit connected to a storage tank, said compressor unit maintaining pressure in the storage tank at a predetermined pressure and a valve in a conduit connected to the bottom of the storage tank to drain anyaccumulated moisture from the storage tank through the valve to a disposal point, said valve having a plunger member seated within the valve normally closing off flow through the conduit, an actuation means to unseat the plunger in the valve connected to the compressor unit, said actuation means operated each time the compressor unit starts into operation to hold the valve open and means included in the actuation means operable to makethe actuation means ineffective to hold the valve open after a predetermined time interval has elapsed.

RUSSELL C. CHURCHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this'patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 261,602 Hill July 25, 1882 1,167,815 Gold; Jan. 11, 1916 2,111,232 Witzel Mar. 15, 1938 2,128,206 Hewitt Aug. 23, 1938 2,256,565- Mantle Sept. 23, 1941 2,339,027 Churchman et a1. Sept. 21, 1943 

